1 A fter this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

2 A nd Job spoke, and said:

And Job said,

3 “ May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’

“ Let the day perish on which I was to be born, And the night which said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

4 M ay that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it.

“May that day be darkness; Let not God above care for it, Nor light shine on it.

5 M ay darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it.

“Let darkness and black gloom claim it; Let a cloud settle on it; Let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 A s for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months.

“ As for that night, let darkness seize it; Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not come into the number of the months.

7 O h, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it!

“Behold, let that night be barren; Let no joyful shout enter it.

8 M ay those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.

“Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

9 M ay the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day;

“Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; Let it wait for light but have none, And let it not see the breaking dawn;

10 B ecause it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb, Or hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “ Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

“ Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?

12 W hy did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

“Why did the knees receive me, And why the breasts, that I should suck?

13 F or now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest

“For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest,

14 W ith kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves,

With kings and with counselors of the earth, Who rebuilt ruins for themselves;

15 O r with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver;

Or with princes who had gold, Who were filling their houses with silver.

16 O r why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who never saw light?

“Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be, As infants that never saw light.

17 T here the wicked cease from troubling, And there the weary are at rest.

“There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.

18 T here the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

“The prisoners are at ease together; They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.

19 T he small and great are there, And the servant is free from his master.

“The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master.

20 “ Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul,

“Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul,

21 W ho long for death, but it does not come, And search for it more than hidden treasures;

Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

22 W ho rejoice exceedingly, And are glad when they can find the grave?

Who rejoice greatly, And exult when they find the grave?

23 W hy is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?

“ Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?

24 F or my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like water.

“For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries pour out like water.

25 F or the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

“For what I fear comes upon me, And what I dread befalls me.

26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, And I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.”